Seat Belt Survey

gerard · Oct 5, 2000

In a car 100% of the time (Sorry but having investigated many many accidents I have to conclude if you don't wear a belt in your car your ignorant. Thats the politest term I could come up with!!!) On my tractor I'm about 80%. ALWAYS when doing loader work or doing any kind of field work at speed but not always on well known parts of my property when going slow or getting on/off frequently.

glennmac · Oct 5, 2000

I wear my belt in two circumstances.

1. Whenever there is the slightest chance of the tractor bucking--eg, all loader work, and all travel on hills, bumpy ground and unknown ground.

2. Whenever I have a mower running, even on flat, familiar ground. I do this not because I am afraid of bucking off but to remind myself to shut off the PTO if I get off the tractor. I find that if my seat belt is off, I tend somethimes to hop off the tractor without shutting off the PTO.

These two circumstances cover the vast majority of time I am on the tractor.

Glenn

rja · Oct 5, 2000

I am a 'weekend warrior' so this may not carry much weight. Once the implement is attached and I am starting to do the job (mowing, scraping, or whatever), the seat belt is on. These machines are too powerful to screw around with. Seatbelts, rops, no riders, no close spcetators, PERIOD.

LazyK · Oct 5, 2000

Thanks all of you for your frank and real world responses. Perhaps I've arrived at 54 years of age with all my toes and fingers intact because I've responded to the advice of more experienced people. I do believe I'll buckle-up. Appreciate the advice... Chip Kelly, Lazy K Stables, Inc.

Chip Kelly-LazyK

DVerbarg · Oct 5, 2000

Glenn,

Regarding your comment about using a seatbelt to remind you to turn off the PTO, the NH boomers will automatically shutoff (at least mine does) if the PTO is left on when you get off. Also shuts off if the parking brake is not set and the 3pt hitch is not lowered or if you get off without placing the HST in neutral.

Question: do all brands of machines do this now? Was this a recent OSHA regulation? Anyone know?

DaveV

Bird · Oct 5, 2000

DVerbarg, I don't know whether any regulations have changed, but my Kubota B2710 (1999 model) does not cut anything off. You can get off and leave the PTO running, gear selector in gear, no parking brake, etc. and it continues running.

Bird

Roy · Oct 5, 2000

Nor does my 2000 model BX. The Feds regulated a no-operator kill/break switch for the push mowers and lawn tractors years ago, but not for agricultural machines. Which in a way makes sense (at least for the rear PTO). Wouldn't want a PTO driven shredder, cement mixer, generator, etc. cutting off just because you are not in the seat. Now, I have to wonder, how do you use such devices with the Boomers?

glennmac · Oct 5, 2000

Mine is a 2000 Kubota B2910. Same as Bird. No safety shutoffs.

Bird · Oct 5, 2000

In 1995, I bought a new Cub Cadet AGS2130 (lawn tractor or riding mower) and quickly learned that the engine died is the weight came off the seat while the blades were engaged, and that the blades disengaged anytime you stepped on the reverse pedal. Then you had to turn the switch off and back on again to re-engage the blades when you started forward again. As much as I like the idea of safety features, I very quickly disconnected those two switches.

Bird